2019-20 League Preview: Midwestern Athletic Conference

Without a doubt the best small school conference in Ohio resides in Northwest Ohio close to the Indiana border. The MAC has won an incredible number of state championships in every sport, including the last two Division 4 girls basketball state titles. The competition will be strong again this season, as Minster looks for a three-peat, Versailles hopes to get back to a familiar place in March, and several other teams will battle for the league title this season. <strong>Coldwater</strong> A team with good talent coming back to challenge. Lauren Gilliand is a 6-1 senior who is a versatile inside/outside player which causes matchup issues for most post players. Kate Leichty is a 5-4 senior dynamic point guard who can score off the dribble and spot up from around the three. Annelise Harlamert is a 5-10 sophomore who is also a proven post player around the basket and is an excellent rebounder. <strong>Delphos St. Johns</strong> They bring back a lot of solid players, including 5-8 senior Hannah Will, a lengthy guard who can play every position on the floor well and causes a lot of turnovers with her length. Aubrie Friemoth is a 5-9 senior who shoots the ball well from the perimeter and can make the defensive plays with her length. Paige Gaynier is a 5-5 junior starting point guard with a lot of skill. She influences the game everywhere. Good handles, can catch and shoot, and penetrates the gaps. Melanie Koenig is a 5-8 junior who is a constant source of energy and a true team player. Finished near the top of the MAC in a lot of categories. <strong>Fort Recovery</strong> The twin towers return for one final season, as seniors [player_tooltip player_id="32540" first="Val" last="Muhlenkamp"] (6-1 post) and [player_tooltip player_id="32544" first="Olivia" last="Patch"] (6-2 post) will be a handful for teams to defend. Some younger guards will look to step up and contribute to the success of this team. <strong>Marion Local</strong> A team with a lot of tradition, the Flyers bring back two key players. 5-11 junior Alana Pohlman is a very athletic, versatile player with a great knack for rebounding both ends of the floor. 5-7 junior guard Heidi Rethman is a strong guard who can get to the rim and finish as well as hit three’s. A couple of players to watch this season are 5-9 sophomore Sam Hoelscher, a guard who played some in the second half of last season. Long and lanky that can cause problems defensively and gets to the rim. Molly Winner is a 6-foot sophomore post who is a strong player who rebounds well. <strong>Minster</strong> Their target just got larger with their second consecutive state title. They lost a lot of talent, but returns likely the top D4 guard duo in the state with [player_tooltip player_id="32556" first="Ivy" last="Wolf"] and Janae Hoying. Wolf<span style="font-size: 10pt"><strong> </strong></span>is a 5-8 point guard who is the reigning league POY, Hoying is one of the most improved guards in the Buckeye state and both are D1 prospects. Also returning is 5-10 senior Averi Wolf, a good set shooter and can penetrate well who will need to raise her game this season. Senior 5-5 guard Mara Schmiesing has quick hands and applies a lot of good pressure. A couple of other juniors who will be counted on are Kate Larger and Jenna Heuker. <strong>New Bremen</strong> Looking to challenge near the top of the conference with three key players returning to lead the way. 5-11 junior Madison Cordonnier has a lot of talent and a good work ethic. She has a great shot and can get to the rim and finish. Sophomore Kaylee Freund is a 5-8 sophomore who has a lot of upside to her game, and is quick and athletic. Junior Katie Howell is a 5-6 point guard who gets the ball in the correct spots, and has the ability to be a great point guard. <strong>Versailles</strong> Longtime coach Jacki Stonebraker has stepped down to take an administrators role but a lot of talent returns. Senior Danielle Kunk is returning from an ACL suffered last year, and is a slashing quick guard who can shoot. Caitlin McEldowney is another good floor general as the senior is a heady leader on the floor. Senior [player_tooltip player_id="32543" first="Lindsey" last="Winner"] also returns as a multitalented forward who can score and defend. Parkway is another team who is hoping to improve from last season. <strong>5 Players to Watch</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="32556" first="Ivy" last="Wolf"] (Minster) [player_tooltip player_id="32543" first="Lindsey" last="Winner"] (Versailles) Madison Cordonnier (New Bremen) Alana Pohlman (Marion Local) Paige Gaynier (Delphos St. Johns) <strong>MAC Tidbits</strong> <ul> <li>Minster is the first D4 team in Ohio to win back-to-back state titles since Harvest Prep did it in 2010 and 2011.</li> <li>5 teams from the MAC have won state championships, including Coldwater, Delphos SJ, Marion Local, Minster and Versailles.</li> <li>Out of those 5 teams, there have been an amazing 13 state champions from the MAC in girls basketball</li> <li>In the first PGH Ohio rankings in the spring, [player_tooltip player_id="32556" first="Ivy" last="Wolf"] was ranked the #4 2021 player in Ohio.</li> </ul>